Marlborough welcomes new children's librarian

By Ed Karvoski Jr., Contributing Writer

Geralyn Schultz (Photo/ Ed Karvoski Jr.)

Marlborough – There have been lots of changes in the Children's Room of the Marlborough Public Library. Recent renovations include new carpeting, shelves, furniture and a fresh coat of paint. While checking out the room's makeover, young patrons and parents are also meeting Geralyn Schultz, the new children's librarian.

She joined the staff after working as the youth services librarian at Rockland Public Library for nearly six years.

“It was very sad for me to leave because I got really attached to the kids and the families,” she said. “The third- and fourth-graders were the saddest to see me leave because they have early memories of me. I saw them grow up.”

Originally from Oregon, Schultz now resides in Northborough. She has many reasons to be happy about her new job – including a shorter commute.

“During rush hour, it was an hour and a half each way,” she said of her former workday trek. “It's hard to have a well-rounded life when you'se on the road so much.”

She has even found herself on the road on her days off in Northborough. For the past few years, she ran in the town's annual Applefest 5K Road Race.

“I's not a competitive racer; I just do it for fun,” she said. “I love that festival.”

In Rockland, she was responsible for a wider age range of library patrons. She welcomes the difference in her new job description as children's librarian.

“I worked with babies to teens, and everything in between,” she said. “I's looking forward to being more focused. I love the interaction with the kids. They'se so fun to be with because they'se so honest and open. And I love recommending books to parents of kids, and getting them excited about reading.”

Schultz recalled when she got excited about reading as a child.

“Every week, I's get a stack of books at the library,” she said. “I was so anxious to get new books and bring them to the check-out desk, and then take them home and read them all.”

Schultz refers to being a librarian as her “second career.” While in Oregon, she earned a degree in music presentation.

“I used to be a performing musician, a cellist, and I played in orchestras,” she explained. “Then I got a job as the music instructor at a preschool and kindergarten in Oregon, and I had a great time with the kids.”

Concurrently, she worked a part-time job with the on-call staff at the Salem Public Library in Oregon.

“Sometimes I would be in the Children's Room, sometimes in the Reference Room, sometimes in the periodicals,” she relayed. “I would rotate wherever they needed me. I really loved being in the library and thought that was a possible career for me.”

Needing “a new adventure,” Schultz relocated to Boston and studied library and information science at Simmons College, where she graduated in 2007.

She'sl continue to draw on her musical talent in the Children's Room.

“I may do music programs,” she said. “I'sl certainly incorporate lots of songs into story times. And I's teaching myself guitar right now, so that can be added to the mix.”

Another difference between her previous and current jobs is a larger staff.

“In Rockland, I was the only librarian doing any programming,” she said. “In Marlborough, there's more of a team to develop programs and to serve the community better.”

She appreciates other benefits of the new job, conveniently located closer to home.

“I's also looking forward to getting to know Northborough better now that I'sl be in town a little more,” she said.